For Group of Five programs, keeping and adding talent can be challenging when players can easily transfer to Power Four schools. But the best G5 schools remain competitive because they still identify and develop the best athletes.
HERO Sports has put together its annual Preseason G5 All-American first, second, and third teams. This year, 44 programs have at least one representative. Here are some of the best G5 players going into the 2025 season.
First Team Offense
QB Maddux Madsen, Boise State
QB Blake Horvath, Navy
RB Al-Jay Henderson, Buffalo
RB George Pettaway, James Madison
WR Junior Vandeross III, Toledo
WR Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
TE Matt Lauter, Boise State
TE Houston Thomas, UTSA
OL Kage Casey, Boise State
OL Brady Small, Army
OL Pat McMurtrie, James Madison
OL Paolo Gennarelli, Army
OL Chris Adams, Memphis
AP Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV
First Team Defense
DL Trey White, San Diego State
DL Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State
DL Mo Westmoreland, Tulane
DL Kobe Stewart, Buffalo
DL Nasir Washington, Miami (Ohio)
LB Red Murdock, Buffalo
LB Jordan Pollard, San Jose State
LB Marco Notarainni, Boise State
LB Kolbe Fields, Louisiana Tech
LB Shay Taylor, Charlotte
DB Josh Moten, Southern Miss
DB Tyree Skipper, Louisiana
DB Jacob Thomas, James Madison
DB Al’zillion Hamilton, Fresno State
DB Avery Smith, Toledo
First Team Special Teams
K Jonah Delange, UAB
P Luke Freer, Air Force
RS Quinton Jackson, Rice
Second Team Offense
QB Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss
QB Owen McCown, UTSA
RB Kentrel Bullock, South Alabama
RB Cam Edwards, UConn
WR Skyler Bell, UConn
WR Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii
WR Nick Cenacle, Hawaii
TE Blake Bosma, Western Michigan
TE John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
OL Aaron Fenimore, Liberty
OL Derrick Graham, Tulane
OL Shadre Hurst, Tulane
OL Caden Barnett, Wyoming
OL Ben Purvis, Navy
AP Eli Heidenreich, Navy
Second Team Defense
DL William Whitlow Jr., Memphis
DL Santana Hopper, Tulane
DL Tyce Westland, Wyoming
DL Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss
DL Bryan Whitehead, Arkansas State
LB Jalen Stewart, Temple
LB Jordan Kwiatkowski, Central Michigan
LB Tyler Martinez, New Mexico State
LB Marsel McDuffie, UNLV
LB Jhalyn Shuler, USF
DB A’Marion McCoy, Boise State
DB Justin Weaver, Army
DB Silas Walters, Miami (Ohio)
DB Tank Pearson, Ohio
DB Brian Blades II, FIU
Second Team Special Teams
K Dom Dzioban, Miami (Ohio)
P John Henderson, Bowling Green
RS Ian Foster, Southern Miss
Third Team Offense
QB Keyone Jenkins, FIU
QB Parker Navarro, Ohio
RB Bill Davis, Louisiana
RB Robert Henry Jr., UTSA
WR Easton Messer, Florida Atlantic
WR Anthony Smith, East Carolina
WR Victor Snow, Buffalo
TE Patrick Overmyer, UTSA
TE Jacob Jenkins, Liberty
OL Aaron Karas, Colorado State
OL Marshall Jackson, Western Kentucky
OL Tyler Doty, Buffalo
OL Jack Walsh, Wyoming
OL Jalen Slappy, Marshall
AP Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State
Third Team Defense
DL Roy Williams, Northern Illinois
DL Payton Zdroik, Air Force
DL Immanuel Bush, James Madison
DL Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion
DL Briceon Hayes, North Texas
LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB Sam Howard, Tulane
LB Andon Thomas, Army
LB Mac Harris, USF
LB Kalib Fortner, Army
DB Solomon Brown, Buffalo
DB Ty Benefield, Boise State
DB Devin Lafayette, Troy
DB JeRico Washington Jr., Kennesaw State
DB Jaydan Mayes, Army
Third Team Special Teams
K Gabriel Plascencia, San Diego State
P Ryan Millmore, Western Michigan
RS Henry Rutledge, Charlotte
